Scottish Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians have already made clear they will vote against another referendum.

MSPs will vote this evening on whether to seek a second referendum from Westminster. Picture: Neil Hanna

The Scottish Greens are expected to help the minority Scottish Government pass its motion asking for a mandate to take forward discussions with the UK Government on the details of a section 30 order - the mechanism to transfer the legal powers for a vote.

A total of 62% of Scottish voters backed the UK remaining part of the EU in June 2016 and the SNP manifesto for last year’s Holyrood elections made clear another ballot on independence should take place if there were a ‘’material change in circumstances’’ from the previous ballot in 2014.

The example cited for that was for Scotland to be removed from the EU against its wishes.

On Tuesday, Ms Sturgeon said: ‘’In the circumstances we now face, for the UK Government to stand in the way of Scotland even having a choice would be, in my view, wrong, unfair and utterly unsustainable.’’

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson insisted the majority of Scots did not want another referendum now.

‘’This referendum may be the First Minister’s priority. It is not mine. Nor that of my party,” she said.